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Sunday, 14 June 2015

Mental Illnesses

According
to
World Health Organization, 25% of the world population is suffering
from Mental illnesses But only 40% of these cases are diagnosed
and treated. One million annual suicides are the result of these
undiagnosed or
missed cases. Most common causes for these suicides are depression,
dementia,
anxiety and Schizophrenia.

Senior Citizens
are susceptible to a variety of mental illnesses. Depression is the most common
of these. Symptoms of depression include- Lack of interest in activities you
enjoyed doing. Sadness or unexplained crying spells, jumpiness or irritability,
Loss of memory, inability to concentrate, confusion or disorientation, Thoughts
of death or suicide, Change in appetite and sleep patterns. Persistent fatigue,
lethargy, aches and other unexplainable physical problems, Dementias and
Pseudo/dementias.

These health
issues are characterized by confusion, memory loss and disorientation. Diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's
as well as high blood pressure and strokes may cause it. When organs such as
the heart, lungs, thyroid, pituitary and other glands do not function well,
mental processes are affected.

Vitamin B-12 has
been extensively researched for its importance in preventing dementia. Studies
supporting a beneficial role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of diseases
linked to dementia such as vascular and metabolic diseases. Except for the
three vitamins - D, K, and Biotin, the other vitamins can be found in fruits,
vegetables and lean meats, and must be a part of your regular diet.

Memory loss: A new study found that elderly people who ate
more calories a day had a higher risk of a type of memory loss called mild
cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a stage of cognitive decline between normal
age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s dementia. People with MCI have problems
with memory and thinking that are noticeable to others, but that don’t
interfere with everyday life.

Walking ward off
mental decline: Walking 'could ward off
dementia and mental decline'. Elderly people who get about by walking are less
likely to suffer mental decline or even dementia, a study says. Brain scans
revealed that older people walking between six and nine miles a week appeared
to have more brain tissue in key areas. The Pittsburgh University study of 299
people suggested they had less "brain shrinkage", which is linked to
memory problems. The research was reported in the journal Neurology. Exercise
improves blood flow to the brain and may help build new brain cells, recent
studies show. Mild exercise such as walking can boost brain volume and improve
memory in older adults, researchers have found.

Protect Your
Brain in Old Age: New research suggests to
protect your brain are:

* Boosting Your
B-Vitamin Intake- Researchers at the British Science Festival this week
reported findings that high doses of B vitamins and folic acid could reduce
memory decline and brain shrinkage

* Cutting Fat,
Carbs - A diet low in saturated fat and refined sugars may reduce your risk of
developing dementia, according to research published earlier this summer

* Exercising -
Aerobic exercise may reduce your chances of developing dementia , and slow the
progression of the disease once it starts.